Chairman Brain Mast suggested protesters should read more news articles. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
PEPFAR is a global AIDS relief program that has been credited with saving over 20 million lives since it was created under President George W. Bush.
The program received a waiver from Trump's administration to continue its work despite the wider funding freeze impacting USAID and state department aid programs.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also created a wider exemption for "life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance," Congressional Republicans noted in a memo.
USAID has been folded into the State Department. (Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Other priorities listed included "$14 million in cash vouchers for migrants at the southern border through the State Department," "$446,700 to promote the expansion of atheism in Nepal through the State Department" and "$32,000 for an LGBTQ-centered comic book in Peru."
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-chairman-responds-after-protesters-tossed-from-usaid-spending-hearing